Fighting the Wrong War, Choosing the Wrong Battles

I realize this statement is going to be unpopular, but it needs to be said.

Responsibility for the secularization of Christmas lies with no one but the Christians.

For whom, but a Christian, should wish someone a, "Merry Christmas"? For what reason should a Christian expect a Muslim, Hindu, Jew, Agnostic, Atheist or Buddhist to wish them a "Merry Christmas"? Common courtesy?

Did Jesus receive common courtesy? Do you believe you deserve more than Christ?

The reason I believe we are so vocal about others when fighting this "War on Christmas" is that deep within, we are ashamed because we know that the reason that it got to this point is that we weren't showing others that our reason for the season IS Christ. From the point of view of others around us, the point is presents, and we rarely voice otherwise. We are not being lampstands, shining His light. We buy our kids presents and receive our rewards here on earth of them hugging and kissing us and saying pretty, "Thank you"'s instead of giving to those who have nothing and are unaware of who their benefactors are.

So, the world is doing as the world does. The world sees our holiday as being about purchasing 'things' for our 'loved ones.' The world sees this as commendable and appropriates it into a fleshy celebration of self. Nonetheless, it is still our responsibility to show that our loved ones include those who despise us, spit on us, and sneer at us for our generosity to strangers. THAT is what Christ was about...loving even those who don't love you in return. Leaving their just rewards in God's hands and sacrificing the joys you might receive of gifts on Christmas morning for the treasures of heaven. Loving the homeless man who needs gloves and a coat by providing him with warmth, loving the starving family who won't have a Christmas turkey for dinner by donating Christmas dinner for them, loving the neighbor who complains about your children playing too loud by praying for them and whatever trial they are experiencing right now.

If Christmas is a Christian holy day, then it is the CHRISTIAN obligation to return the message to Christ and away from commercialism. It is not the fault of liberals nor conservatives, it is our own fault for allowing the message to be swamped by commerce rather than letting the message shine through faith. Especially after the last two years of hurricanes devastating the Gulf states, this year we should be making Christmas about charity for strangers, and the gift of time spent with our loved ones who are still living.

And why do we fear someone being offended by saying "Merry Christmas"?

Take joy that you had good intentions for the Lord when you said it. You are sharing the joy of his birth and if you receive some flak for it, "GREAT!" Who cares if they are offended? That is THEIR problem, not yours! Why get uncomfortable because they don't like it?

But, if you are going to say it, make your Merry Christmas mean something REAL. Share Christmas with your family, but share it with strangers as well! I remember a few years ago someone was trying to get a 'random acts of kindness' movement going. THAT is the kind of attitude that is at the heart of Christmas. If we took every chance we could to do a little for the elderly woman in the grocery store using her last few dollars until her social security check comes in to buy milk or her medicine...ten or fifteen dollars? If we help the young mother on WIC purchase a treat she cannot afford for her kids, or diapers? If we bought a pair of gloves and a hot lunch for the beggar on the corner at the stoplight? If we ALL did these small things, and said, "Merry Christmas," wouldn't the season be Christmas? Wouldn't we be LIVING Christ rather than simply SPEAKING it? Make the words "Merry Christmas" actually MEAN something this holiday...THAT is how you take the secularism OUT of the holiday and put it back into charity.

God bless and Merry Christmas!